THAT GRACE GIRL is an editorial endeavour dedicated to creating intelligent beauty coverage for women who are as passionate about prose as they are perfume.

Sep 2 American Beauty Haul

In lieu of an August favourites post, I've decided instead to post about the beauty products that I hunted down/discovered in America. I was Stateside for the majority of the month so aside from the travel essentials I blogged about before I left, these have been the only products that I've used. One of the biggest things that shocked me was how cheap everything is over there. After spending the equivalent of £9 on a MAC lipstick I don't know how I'll ever be able to spend £14 on one over here!

I love love love this product, it has completely confirmed my love of cream cleansers and I don't know how I will live without it. I was initially sceptical of the scent which is kind of a citrus/mint combo as I'm not a fan of citrus flavours but it's grown on me. I use about an inch of this thick white cream rubbed between my fingers and over a wet face. It gives a lovely tingly sensation if you leave it on for a few minutes before wiping it off, and leaves my face feeling soft and supple.

So cheap! I've seen this balm featured in Nylon magazine and on numerous blogs. Its iconicly shaped packaging is great for keeping in a pocket or your handbag and makes for smooth application. The flavour is very sickly sweet but there are a number of different ones available. I like how this doesn't leave much residue on your lips upon application (one of lip balm pet peeves).

I couldn't exaclty take a trip to the States and not buy a Baby Lips right? These raved about lip balms have just landed in the UK after taking the US by storm. Bloggers and magazines alike rave about the super moisturising qualities, cute packaging, and unique flavours of Maybelline's latest offering to our lips. I purchased in the flavours Grapevine and Pink Punch. Whilst I do really like these I wouldn't say they're quite worth the hype. They're not very pigmented so it doesn't really make a difference whether or not you choose a tinted one. I'd just go by whichever flavour you like the sound of (90s kids alert: Grapevine tastes like the grape gel pen smelt). I also didn't find them overly moisturising, but who knows, maybe time will tell...

I ummed and aahed over buying this or my favourite (L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes) but opted for this as I'd probably never try it in the UK where it retails at more than twice the price it does here. I'm in two minds over this product. It's the complete opposite of VML which has a thick brush and really does have a voluminising effect. This has a really thin, ever so slightly grooved brush and is definitely geared at lengthening rather than thickening. I like the effect it gives, especially if you take time to apply it slowly, however it has definitely made me realise that I'm more of a thick lashes > long lashes kinda gal. Apparently this is no longer available in the UK so I'm quite glad I purchased!

Again, I'm not usually a fan of citrus scents but this one smelt so fresh, natural, and summery that I couldn't resist! Gud is a new line from Burt's Bees', and is paraben free, not tested on animals etc. The range is a little cheaper than the standard Burt's Bees' range but much the same concept. After using these, the scent really does linger in your hair! They both apply nicely and keep my hair clean for a good few days.

I headed Stateside with a list containing a number of options for my Revlon Lip Butter pick but ended up picking one which I think must be US exclusive as I've never seen it before. Berry Smoothie is a lovely subdued raspberry with plum tones and slight shimmer. It's pigmented enough to last but not to create too much of an eyeful, the perfect everyday shade.

Not an intentional buy, the first few Walmarts I visited didn't stock Burt's Bees' and as the sample sized cleanser I'd brought from home was running low I bought this until I could get my hands on Burt's Bees'. I've purchased Neutrogena in the US before, the range is a lot bigger and quite different to the UK version and I had a really good experience with the cleanser I brought last time I was in the States. This is from the new 'Neutrogena Naturals' range and I was really looking forward to using it as I always prefer using natural products over synthetic ones. However, I really wasn't impressed with this scrub and wish I'd bought a cream cleanser instead. The ingredients list was impressive, with nothing too hard to pronounce, but the scent of this cleanser has really put me off using it, it reminds me of washing up liquid or hand soap, clean but in a very chemically way. The texture isn't bad, kind of gloopy but very exfoliating (perhaps a little too much for my skin).

Yes, another lip balm. I don't know how I ended up purchasing so many because I'm not really a big lip balm fan, but I always purchase one of these when I'm in the States so it's become a kind of tradition. I love the flavour and buttery texture of this balm, it's one of the few that has proved to be really moisturising when I have dry lips.

I was so excited to see The Balm stocked in the Duane Reade below my hotel, and spent a lot of time in there debating over whether to invest in the Nude 'tude palette that I've had my eye on for a while. However, the thought of a days clothes shopping the following day kept me sane and instead I opted for this gorgeous emerald green polish which had immediately caught my eye.

I'm fairly new to the world of MAC lipstick and took some advice from Essiebutton on this one. I've been looking for an everyday lipstick shade that is just a little more than the natural colour of my lips and Plumful has ticked all the boxes. It's a lovely deep plummy pink, easily buildable, and applies beautifully. I hate the drag and dryness of MAC's Cremesheen lipsticks but definitely recommend Lustre's for being smooth and easy to apply.

I'm planning on writing a 'guide to American beauty shopping' so follow me on Wordpress or Bloglovin to stay updated.